New in town

When the lights go down on the show floor, you might find yourself wondering what next? Here are some of Louisville’s best offerings for enjoying casual dinner and drinks with colleagues, entertaining the family or exploring the city’s vibrant night life.

Dinner and Drinks
When hunger pangs hit, don’t panic. Louisville has an incredible dining repertoire and you should take the opportunity to try something new and unique. Here’s a look at a few renowned establishments and some new, exciting spots.

For quick and casual, there’s Taco Punk in downtown’s eclectic NuLu district. It’s a great gourmet/fast-food tango. Down the street is Harvest, a farm-to-table restaurant that sources 80 percent of its food from farmers and growers within a 100-mile radius of the city.

Pizza lovers rejoice! Louisville sure does produce some fine pizza. Coals Artisan Pizza is a brand-new hotspot featuring hand-crafted pizzas baked in a coal-fired oven. Other popular local pizza places include Impellizzeri’s, Boombozz and Wick’s.

If you want a dining experience that’s, say, a little more eclectic, head over to MilkWood at Actors Theater of Louisville to see what Iron Chef America Champion Edward Lee is cooking up. The menu is one-of-a-kind and varies; recently octopus bacon made an appearance as a starter and sorghum and grits ice cream debuted for dessert.

Another fun way to explore the city is by tracking down the amazing food trucks that drive around. Grind supplies gourmet burgers, Holy Mole prepares tacos and the Louisville Dessert Truck supplies sweets. But that’s only a few; check out all the trucks at the Louisville Food Truck Association and the Louisville Street Food Alliance.

Family Attractions
Bringing the family on a business trip and taking a few extra days to play is a good way treat your spouse and give your kids valuable cultural experiences. When the business is over, enjoy some of Louisville’s top attractions.

Take a walk to view Louisville’s skyline from the newly restored Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, accessible from River Road just east of downtown. Originally completed in 1895, the formerly abandoned railroad truss bridge crosses the Ohio River and now provides pedestrians and cyclists magnificent views of the river, Waterfront Park and the city. The bridge is open 24/7, and Waterfront Park is open 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

For some family-friendly Halloween fun, check out the inaugural Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. This event will feature 5,000 illuminated pumpkins on a 1,500-ft. trail, with more than 100 carved into veritable works of art. Visit www.jackolanternlouisville.com for hours and ticket information.

Before the GIE+EXPO concerts begin or while you’re waiting for a table, walk a couple of blocks south of Fourth Street Live! to the corner of 4th and Broadway to see the iconic Derby Clock. It’s a 40-ft.-tall structure that features five hand-carved statues that race around the track. It originally debuted in 1976, and after many years in storage, was recently restored and placed in Theatre Square. It may look like a giant wind-up toy, but it really does tell time!

A Night Out
Going out for dinner and drinks after the expo ends and before the concerts begin is a good way to keep up the networking with colleagues, peers and new contacts. Tireless souls will find diverse bar scenes around Louisville for post-concert fun.

Fourth Street Live! and the downtown area has a well-known reputation for late night fun. PBR Louisville – where cowboy cool meets urban chic – is decked out with beautiful décor. Grab a cold beer and show off your bull riding skills. A new late-night downtown spot will open in early October, just in time for GIE+EXPO. Being billed as a nice, higher-end 4 a.m. bar, Meta will be just a block south of 4th Street Live!

The East Main and Market Street corridors boast an array of night spots. A modern-day “honky tonk,” Manny & Merle features ModMex cuisine, a bourbon and tequila bar and live music. Haymarket Whiskey Bar is just what the name implies. They have more than 50 whiskeys by the drink, more than 50 bottled domestic and foreign beers, seven rotating taps featuring American & Belgian craft beers and live music.

Tour Bourbon Country – In the City
Bourbon connoisseurs, have you heard of the Urban Bourbon Trail? Become an expert in bourbon as you experience the history of the city’s bourbon heritage and the world’s most celebrated bourbon bars.

There are two ways to travel the trail – pick up your passport at the Visitors Center at Fourth & Jefferson or one of the restaurants, or download the app. Ask your bartender or server to validate your passport (or app). Collect a stamp from six different stops along the trail and you’ll earn the rank of official Bourbon Country Citizen and be awarded a special t-shirt and certificate.

The Bars and Restaurants of the Urban Bourbon Trail

Asiatique
Nestled in the city’s original restaurant row, Asiatique offers a bourbon experience with a unique Eastern flair and twist on tastings with the opportunity to sample a wide selection of Japanese whiskies.
1767 Bardstown Rd.
502.451.2749
www.asiatiquerestaurant.com

The Bar at BLU
For a modern Louisville experience, step into a fresh new space of contemporary design at BLU. Sample 60+ bourbons from the “Wall of Bourbon” or try one or more of the bourbon tasting flights.
280 W. Jefferson St.
502.671.4285
www.blugrille.com

Baxter Station
First opened as Stottman’s Tavern in 1892, Baxter Station has since evolved into a comfortable, casual bistro and its name that plays off the original Baxter Train Station that was a stop on the inter/urban rail line.
1201 Payne St.
502.584.1635
www.baxterstation.com

Bourbons Bistro
Marty Rosen from the Courier-Journal says, “Even in the land of bourbon, where massive catalogs of whiskey are the pride of many bars, Bourbons Bistro stands out as one of the key destinations on Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail.”
2255 Frankfort Ave.
502.894.8838
www.bourbonsbistro.com

Bristol Bar & Grille – Downtown
Winner of more “Best of Louisville” awards than any other local restaurant, the Bristol features an assortment of dishes highlighting local farmers. Try their famous, local favorite – green chili wontons with guacamole.
614 W. Main St.
502.582.1995
www.bristolbarandgrille.com

Bristol Bar & Grille – Highlands
This original Bristol Bar & Grille opened in the heart of the Highlands in September 1977, and it quickly became a favorite local dining destination and a favorite place to drink fine bourbon.
1321 Bardstown Rd.
502.456.1702
www.bristolbarandgrille.com

Brown Hotel Lobby Bar
It’s easy to let your imagination take you back to another era as you sip an Old Fashioned in the lavish lobby bar of the Brown Hotel, which Southern Living described as “straight from a 1930s movie set.”
335 W. Broadway
502.583.1234
www.brownhotel.com

Buck’s
Set among the stately Victorian mansions of Old Louisville, be one with the bourbon at the only bar adorned with bottles within arm’s reach. Check the chalkboard at Buck’s for each week’s bourbon feature offered at a special price.
425 W. Ormsby
502.637.5284
www.buckslou.com

Charr’d Bourbon Kitchen and Lounge
From the food to the décor, Charr’d is truly bourbon inspired. The restaurant features local and regional ingredients harvested in Bourbon Country and serves it in a classy dining room inspired by bourbon barrels and limestone.
1903 Embassy Square Blvd.

502.491.1184
www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/sdfls-louisville-marriott-east

Derby Cafe: at the Kentucky Derby Museum
The Café uses an array of Kentucky Proud food items and Kentucky’s finest bourbon dishes including country ham wontons with bourbon mustard, bourbon vinaigrette over a southern Bibb salad, bourbon brisket of beef and out-of-this-world bread pudding with bourbon sauce.
704 Central Ave.
502.634.0858
www.derbycafe.com

Dish on Market
Dish on Market is a value-based neighborhood bar offering everything from Truman’s Breakfast (the President liked a shot of bourbon with his daily egg) to the #1 burger in the city (LEO Readers Choice Awards).
434 W. Market St.
502.315.0669
www.dishonmarket.com

Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar
Doc Crow’s name is a nod to the Scottish-born physician responsible during the mid-19th century for scientific advances that gave greater spirit consistency in the American whiskey industry. Most notable was his refinement of the “sour mash” process.
127 W. Main St.
502.587.1626
www.doccrows.com

Harvest
At least 80 percent of Harvest’s food is sourced from farmers and growers within a 100-mile radius of the city. These are not just ordinary farmers; these are people who are custodians of the countryside, people who are committed to sustainable farming practices and impeccable standards of animal welfare.
624 E. Market St.
502.384.9090
www.harvestlouisville.com

Haymarket Whiskey Bar
The Haymarket Whiskey Bar is a great place to imbibe, enjoy a band or play vintage pinball. The Haymarket is the only “dive bar” in downtown Louisville to feature more than 75 bourbons, 100 whiskeys, 50 craft beers and a full menu of signature house cocktails.
331 E. Market St.
502.442.0523
www.haymarketwhiskeybar.com

Lilly’s
Located in the Highlands neighborhood, Lilly’s has been a part of the Louisville dining scene for more than 25 years. Kathy Cary’s, the head chef and owner, great-grandfather was responsible for beginning local brand Kentucky Tavern, and her bourbon heritage is reflected in the menu.
1147 Bardstown Rd.
502.451.0447
www.lillyslapeche.com

Maker’s Mark Bourbon House & Lounge
Despite the Maker’s Mark moniker, this eclectic restaurant and lounge located in Louisville’s vibrant Fourth Street Live! entertainment district, features a 57-foot bar with a wall of backlit, alphabetically arranged bourbons of many brands.
446 S. 4th St.
502.568.9009
www.makerslounge.com

Marketplace Restaurant
Southern comfort food meets Italian flair and live jazz in an eclectic atmosphere. Located in downtown Louisville, Marketplace Restaurant emphasizes fresh local ingredients and the highest quality meats and seafood.
651 S. 4th St.
502.625.3001
www.theatersquaremarketplace.com

The Old Seelbach Bar
Opened in 1905, the Seelbach Hotel has hosted gangsters, politicians and celebrities for generations. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Seelbach’s gilded-era luxury served as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s inspiration for The Great Gatsby, and the hotel’s Oakroom restaurant was a favorite hangout of Al Capone.
500 S. 4th St.
502.585.3200
www.seelbachhilton.com

Proof On Main

Located in downtown’s 21c Museum Hotel, Proof on Main features a diverse selection of Kentucky’s finest bourbons. Named one of three American “New Whiskey Temples” by GQ, Proof offers a library of small batch and single barrel bourbon as well as proprietary bourbon selections.
702 W. Main St.
502.217.6360
www.proofonmain.com

Ramsi’s Cafe on the World
Son of the only female liquor store owner in Jerusalem, Ramsi brings his international perspective and world flavors to Bourbon Country. In the center of Louisville’s quaint, yet hip, Highlands neighborhood is Ramsi’s Café on the World, a local favorite for 20 years with an extensive bar and late night hours.
1293 Bardstown Rd.
502.451.0700
www.ramsiscafe.com

The Silver Dollar
Featuring over 100 Kentucky bourbons, ryes, a proprietary barrel program and no imported whiskey, The Silver Dollar has whiskey that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Every whiskey in the house is available in a tasting pour.
1761 Frankfort Ave.
502.259.9540
www.whiskeybythedrink.com

St. Charles Exchange
Patrons of St. Charles enjoy cocktails and fine dining with a menu featuring seasonal variations of Southern classics. The beverage program celebrates over 50 types of locally distilled bourbons while focusing on a lengthy list of cocktails that showcase the art of a fine, mixed drink.
113 S. 7th St.
502.618.1917
www.stcharlesexchange.com

Varanese
Once home to a service station in the mid-1950s, Varanese’s building has been renovated into an elegant, upscale casual restaurant with a 25-foot slate water wall and an all-season patio enclosed with a serpentine of glass doors which can be retracted during nice weather.
2106 Frankfort Ave.
502.899.9904
www.varanese.com

Vernon Club
The Vernon was a mansion built in the Butchertown neighborhood in 1886. In 1936, what is now the oldest bowling alley in Louisville and the oldest active bowling alley in the United States was built onto the back.
1575 Story Ave.
502.584.8460
www.vernonclub.com

The Village Anchor Pub & Roost
The four-star-rated Village Anchor restaurant and its lower-level sister pub The Sea Hag, resemble an open-air beach house accented with industrial fans and heaters to offer year-round alfresco dining on its three patios and iron-clad lanai.
11507 Park Rd.
502.708.1850
www.villageanchor.com

Vincenzo’s Italian Restaurant
Chef Agostino especially enjoys cooking many of his favorite Italian dishes with Bourbon and has been known to whip up special “off the menu” Bourbon-enhanced entrees. So, be sure to ask the Chef about these when you visit, and have your Bourbon the Italian way – straight up!
150 S. 5th St.
502.580.1350
www.vincenzositalianrestaurant.com

Volare Ristorante
Chef Josh Moore presents farm-to-table menus of modern Italian cuisine served with Southern Hospitality that celebrate the season’s bounty from locally sourced products and produced from his own, 10-acre farm in Taylorsville, Ky.
2300 Frankfort Ave.
502.894.4446
www.volare-restaurant.com